Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang held a press conference on November 28, 2013.

Qin Gang started the press conference with the following announcement:

At the invitation of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Nasser Judeh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, will pay a visit to China from December 1 to 3.

Q: China and Australia are going to start a negotiation on the free trade agreement. Will the current difference between the two countries about the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) have an effect on the negotiation?

A: Both China and Australia are important countries in the Asia Pacific. The two countries enjoy broad common interests. The enhancement of bilateral cooperation not only serves the interests of the two countries and two peoples, but also brings benefit to regional peace and prosperity.

The two countries are in communication on the FTA negotiation. We hope that the Australian side could create more favorable conditions and do more things that are beneficial for bilateral cooperation and the sound and smooth development of bilateral relations.

Q: There is still confusion in the aviation industry about the East China Sea ADIZ. Does the establishment of the ADIZ mean that a plane flying from Shanghai to Tokyo which used to file a flight plan with the Chinese authorities has to file another plan? What is the penalty for airlines that do not comply?

A: I have repeatedly answered this question. In accordance with the Announcement of the Aircraft Identification Rules for the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone of the People's Republic of China, aircrafts flying over the East China Sea ADIZ should report the flight plans to the Chinese side. We hope that all relevant parties, including the airlines, could cooperate actively to jointly maintain flight security. I would point you to China's civil aviation administrations for the specifics. As far as I have learned, airlines of many countries and regions have already reported their flight plans to China's civil aviation administrations as required. It is obvious for all to see that, since the Announcement was released, flights in the related airspace, especially those by civil airlines, have been secure, normal and unaffected at all. We have been saying that foreign airlines' normal overflights in the East China Sea ADIZ will not be affected.

Q: Two main Japanese airlines have been told by the Japanese government not to report their flight plans to China. Is there a risk that aircrafts of these two airlines could be shot down by the Chinese side? Can you give us a guarantee that these aircrafts will not be shot down?

A: I want to reiterate that China's establishment of the East China Sea ADIZ is not directed against normal international passenger flights. We hope that airlines of relevant countries will cooperate actively to make their flights more orderly and secure.

Q: Will China consider setting up a similar air defense identification zone in its border with India?

A: I want to make clear the concept of the air defense identification zone. It is an area of airspace established by a coastal state beyond its territorial airspace. Therefore, what you have said does not constitute a question.

Q: Are you saying civil airlines flying through the East China Sea ADIZ do not have to file flight plans with the Chinese military?

A: I want to stress once again that the East China Sea ADIZ is not directed against passenger aircrafts that carry out normal flights in this airspace. We have released the relevant announcement with explicit provisions. We hope that airlines could cooperate actively with us.

Q: Defense ministers of Japan and the US had a telephone conversation, saying that they do not recognize China's ADIZ and will continue to be on guard and carry on with their monitoring activities in this airspace. What is China's comment?

A: We have repeatedly expounded on our position on the East China Sea ADIZ. It is completely unjustifiable for Japan and the US to make irresponsible remarks on that. We have lodged solemn representations respectively with Japan and the US to refute their remarks. We call on the Japanese and American sides to earnestly reflect on themselves, immediately correct their mistakes, stop making groundless accusations against China, stop creating frictions and refrain from words and deeds that undermine regional stability.

Q: Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin met with US Deputy Secretary of State Burns on November 27 in the US, talking about relevant issues concerning China's establishment of the East China Sea ADIZ. There is also a vice ministerial level strategic dialogue between the defense ministries of China and the ROK. How will China communicate with Japan? Will China consider sending officials to Japan or inviting Japanese officials to China?

A: The meeting between Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and US Deputy Secretary of State Burns and the third China-ROK strategic dialogue on national defense are previously scheduled. China had extensive and in-depth exchanges of views respectively with the US and the ROK on issues of common interest. Of course China reiterated its position and proposition on the relevant issue. We have conveyed our position on the issue concerning the ADIZ to the Japanese side many times. It is not the case that there is no channel of communication between China and Japan, rather, it is the case that Japan should show sincerity, create conditions for bilateral dialogue and communication as well as the effective management and settlement of differences and make concrete efforts to improve and develop bilateral relations.